The Belgian Gaming Commission has signed an agreement with DNS Belgium, the national domain registrar, for better cooperation regarding regulatory oversight. The partnership enables the gambling watchdog to block domains targeting Belgian consumers illegally. This is a significant step toward enforcing regulatory compliance at a time when the popularity of online gambling is growing rapidly across Europe.
Belgian Gaming Authority and DNS Belgium Sign Agreement to Block Domains Targeting Consumers Illegally: Quick Summary
- On Monday, December 15, the Belgian Gaming Authority signed a partnership agreement with DNS Belgium to block gambling sites with .be domains operating without the necessary permits.
- The gambling watchdog will notify the domain registry every time a .be domain violates the Gambling Act. DNS Belgium will swiftly block the website and redirect traffic to a stop page.
- Affected gaming platforms will have the opportunity to comply with the Gambling Act. Failure to do so will result in DNS Belgium revoking the domain name. This ensures consumer safety while allowing operators to rectify the situation.
DNS Belgium Confirms Partnership; Will Block Illegal Gambling Websites
In a press release on Monday, December 15, DNS Belgium announced that it has signed a partnership agreement with the Belgian Gaming Commission. The deal will enable the gambling authority to crack down swiftly on gaming websites violating the Gambling Act of 1999. This is part of a wider government initiative to reform the online gambling market.
In October, the Belgian Gaming Commission (Kansspelcommissie) accepted several recommendations in the draft law regarding updates to the Gambling Act. It agreed to prohibit bingo at cafés and bookshops as well as gambling on credit and reduce the maximum weekly deposit limit from €200 to €50 for players with a history of defaulting.
In 2018, DNS Belgium established a strategic partnership with the FPS Economy, a government organisation responsible for managing economic policies, consumer protection, market safety and sustainable growth. The model used for that framework serves as the foundation for additional agreements, including the one with the Kansspelcommissie.
Peter Vergote, the legal advisor for DNS Belgium, emphasised the importance of the latest agreement in protecting consumers from unregulated gambling sites.
He said:
We’re very much looking forward to working with the Belgian Gaming Commission to tackle problematic websites in the .be zone quickly and efficiently. This year, we’ve seen an increase in complaints relating to suspected illegal gambling sites. This cooperation provides an appropriate response to that trend.
Blocked Operators Must Comply with the Gambling Act to Resume Services
The partnership enables the Gaming Commission to report .be domains illegally targeting Belgian consumers to the national domain registrar. DNS Belgium will block the offending domain name’s server within one working day. Inbound traffic will be redirected to a stop page, and the affected websites must comply with the legislation or have their domain names permanently revoked.
This approach will streamline enforcement and provide operators with a fair chance to comply with the Gambling Act. The Belgian Gambling Commission has been maintaining a list of illicit gaming platforms for several years now. While Internet Service Providers (ISPs) currently block access to blacklisted gambling websites, the new agreement adds a second layer of protection to the existing framework.
Domain blocking is a common practice among gambling regulators globally. In July, the Danish Gaming Authority secured a court order to block 178 unlicensed gambling sites targeting consumers across the country. In Belgium’s case, the domain registrar has the authority to block .de servers at the regulator’s behest.
As a result, unlicensed gambling operators in Belgium are going to find it increasingly difficult to bypass restrictions. The latest measure reinforces the Gaming Commission’s intentions to ensure compliance and protect consumers’ interests. Its neighbour, the Netherlands, has also taken significant steps to curb the spread of illegal gambling.
While Dutch authorities have currently shelved plans to privatise the gambling sector, the state-owned Holland Casino has witnessed a steady decrease in revenue from land-based venues over the years. In Belgium, lawmakers are hoping to minimise gambling harm and foster a sustainable industry by implementing regulatory reforms.